Social Work Graduate Fellowships
Earn your Master of Social Work and reduce your tuition with a graduate fellowship.
Fellowship Types
The Master of Social Work fellowship program offers graduate students the opportunity to receive a Presidential Fellowship, which covers 100% of tuition for the first year of the program (up to 36 credits). This fellowship includes a 9-month, unpaid placement, requiring a commitment of 25 hours of work per week.
Note that, because of the 900 hours of field work integrated into the MSW curriculum, fellowships are not available for the second year of the program.
2026-2027 MSW Fellowship Opportunities
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Social Work Fellowship Process
How To Apply
- Click the “Apply Now” button below or go to gps.merrimack.edu/apply to begin or resume your graduate application.
- Within your app, select “Yes” for “Are you applying to a fellowship?”
- Submit your application. Be sure to complete the required Fellowship essay.
- Receive your admission decision. If admitted to the master’s program, you’ll receive further instructions about the fellowship process.
Important Information for the Social Work Fellowship Program
We strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible for your best chance at a preferred placement. Applications will be accepted until all fellowship positions have been filled.
Priority Fellowship Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
Initial Rankings Form Available: February 5, 2026
Initial Rankings Deadline: February 13, 2026
Fellowship Interviews: March 2-5, 2026
Post-Interview Rankings Deadline: March 6, 2026
Match Decisions: Late March 2026
First Day of Fellowship Training: August 2026
Duration of Fellowship Placement: August 2026 to late May 2027
The process is as follows:
- Submit your online application. Be sure to indicate your fellowship interest within your application.
- Submit your initial ranking form. Students who are accepted for admission and invited to interview for a fellowship will be eligible to review and rank their preferred positions. If you are invited, your invitation will include a deadline for submitting your selections. Please note: we do not guarantee that you will be invited to interview for your top selections.
- Complete your site interviews. Speak directly with site representatives to learn more about the position and responsibilities.
- Submit your post-interview rankings. After the interviews, both students and sites must complete and submit their post-interview ranking forms, ranking their preferences for final placement.
- Receive your match notification. Match letters will be sent to all students and supervisors.
Please note:
- Participation in the fellowship placement process does not guarantee a fellowship. Sites will independently decide which candidates to invite for interviews. Please note that interviews are not guaranteed with your selected sites.
- Deposits are due five business days after matches are sent to students.
- As a two year program, the fellowship scholarship is only awarded and applied for the first year of the program. You will not be eligible for any other discounts or scholarships.
- If you are admitted into the traditional program but not offered a fellowship, you may be considered for a Dean scholarship.
- If you are originally awarded a scholarship and then are given a fellowship placement, you will no longer receive the merit scholarship. The fellowship will replace any other discounts.
Questions? All interested students should email [email protected] for further information.
Dean and Alumni Scholarships
Dean and Alumni Scholarships are available to students who are not receiving a fellowship. No additional application is needed.